Skip to main content

Well I'm back with a few questions.
I've searched on this forum about this topic, but it didn't make sense. If I read older postings you give the advice not to go for XP OS on your DAW... New postings says that XP is a great OS ( with the famous "Opus-tweaks")
So what's the main difference between the performance of the 98, XP and 2 K? Of course you should have soundcard drivers for the OS you're going for.
I'm going to buy a M-Audio Delta410 to start with, and later I thought I'd buy a soundcard with A-DAT lightpipe. (RME Hammerfall or the M-Audio ADAT-card)
So my question is:
Do you think that I should (need to)update from W98SE?
Is that something that you also need to do when you add larger HD's ?
If so, what should I go for?
XP home/Pro or 2k?
You also need one of those if you're going to run Cubase SX instead of Logic, don't you?

It would be nice to hear what you think about this.

Comments

Opus2000 Tue, 10/15/2002 - 08:37

Hey Tore
Yes, indeed if you look back and read some of my original posts I was hesitant on XP...just like I was when Win2K first came out!
Right now it is Win2K or Xp that re the OS of choice! To me XP is truly fantastic as it is way more responsive and stable. Less issues in my mind. Pretty much all applications and hardware are XP ready and work like a charm...I think the only issues with hardware at this point are devices such as video capture cards..ie Miro DC 30's
With larger hard drives it is recommended to go Win2k or XP and to go with NTFS. I truly recommend NTFS as you can restore a damaged drive with some end user software programs safely! Just did that last night with the beach boys tracks! Wonderful program called Restorer2000!!
Anyhue, don't upgrade so to speak! Do a fresh install of the new OS and this way you are gauranteed a better install.
Go with XP Pro as that has more options and more configurable tweaks...Home doesn't allow you certain tweaks and settings like Pro does..it's worth it in the long run, especially with my tweaks!
HTH
Opus

anonymous Tue, 10/15/2002 - 15:10

Thanx again Opus... XP sounds like the way I should go. I thought I'd get it from the states
since I think it's not so expensive there.
If I but it here I have to pay something like 420 USD. Don't know how much it cost in the states but I'm quite sure it's less.
When I searched for it at Mwave I've only found the price for the OEM version... And I should get a "XP Pro-retail", shouldn't I?
Talking about Mwave...Are there any good online stores that you recommend for the other DAW-stuff, like Software(Cubase) and other studio equipment?
And once again... it's always a true pleasure to enter this forum. :c:

Opus2000 Tue, 10/15/2002 - 15:16

Well, most of the time you "have" to buy Windows XP "with" hardware to get that price! There's always a string attached somewhere!!! lol
Yes, XP Pro is the way to go!
Other companies to get DAW stuff from....hmmm? Not sure as I never really have to...always get it for free from the manufacturer! lol :D
I would price out Sweetwater.com
Opus

anonymous Wed, 10/16/2002 - 01:05

- musiciansfriend.com

- If you are able to upgrade or cross-grade get your cubase directly from Steinberg. $149 - $399 depending on what you have. Some audio cards will get you a cheaper version of a software package, which you can then upgrade.

- The XP OEM version you can get from mwave.com if you purchase even a cable. They are not fussy. However, not sure whether they will ship to Sweden.

- Check out the Echo Layla24 as well, it has adat and in the US is $680. Did a lot of research on this too. RME, Lynx and Echo came out very well. I looked at Motu initially but there was a lot of bad press on them regarding stability and driver problems with PC. They are fine with Mac. The lynx does not have a breakout box, which is why I did not go for it. The consensus was that the PC creates too much electronic activity for the AD converter to be inside the case.

Some research notes on audio cards:
RME DSP with Multiface has a AD chip AK4528 that is a few generations older than the Layla24, which has the AK5393. The delta 1010 uses AK4393, delta66 uses AK4523, delta1010L uses AK4524, RME ADI-8 AE uses AK5383, Mackie Soundscape uses 5393,

The RME ADI-96 Pro, Apogee Rosetta come out better, however, they are more than double the price.

pcavtech.com is an interesting site for tests.

Cheers.

anonymous Wed, 10/16/2002 - 07:11

Tank you Opus and Tr@nz.Nice on-line stores... I found out that you can get a new ADAT XT20 for 1000 USD nowadays! :eek:
I have no problem ordering XP from Mwave, my niece lives in NY and she can order it for me.OEM... I think I will order it with the CPU (Buying the CPU there will save me ~70 USD) .Soundcard is another issue and I will surely check out Leyla.
Just a final question about the OS:
Let's say you build two ANUS-DAW's with the same hardware and let's say 512 Mb RAM, and install Win 98Se on one and XP-pro on the other.
Then you run them both with 24 audio tracks and keep addingplug-ins software synth's and sw-samplers... as long as you can.
Do you think that XP will be the one winning this test? Doesn't the XP OS need more RAM to run "itself" than win 98SE needs?
Maybe a silly question, but I'd like to know if going for XP also means that I should go for more RAM?